The Health Benefits of Cutting Down on Alcohol or Quitting Entirely

It's widely known that alcohol use has a lot of consequences. This is predominately seen in physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, though there are, of course, huge consequences on familial and social life.

The World Health Organisation reported that in 2019, “alcohol use was responsible for 6.7% of all deaths among men and 2.4% of all deaths among women” around the world.

Across the globe, mortality rates are high and men, in particular, are significantly impacted.

What's important to keep in mind is that reducing or completely cutting out alcohol has a hugely positive influence on health. It doesn't take long to witness healthy changes.

Below, the consequences of heavy alcohol use are discussed alongside health benefits gained from quitting.

Long-term Consequences of Alcohol Use

Being both a psychoactive and toxic substance, regular alcohol use comes hand-in-hand with many consequences. 

Understanding more about these can help deter, and in some cases, stop a person drinking, especially where health conditions are present. It’s important to raise awareness so that people who drink do so with their eyes open. From this space, they’re more likely to access home detox treatment.

1. Impact of Alcohol Use on Health

Health tends to be the primary focus when it comes to the long-term effects of alcohol use.

Considering how rotten the short-term effects of alcohol consumption and poisoning can be (i.e. headaches, lethargy, sleep disturbances, vomiting, diarrhoea), it's not surprising that this substance can lead to severe illnesses and diseases with frequent and long-term use.

At its worst, alcoholism is linked to cancer, cardiac problems, increased risk of stroke and illnesses associated with the gastrointestinal tract.

By reducing and completely cutting out alcohol, the health benefits are endless.

Health benefits of cutting down alcohol include a reduced risk of the following…

  • Depression

  • Blood pressure

  • Hypertension

  • Stroke

  • Cancer (alcohol causes seven types of cancer)

  • Liver disease

A person is also likely to experience positive effects such as…

  • Improved gut health and therefore better absorption of vitamins B1 and B12 and folic acid 

  • Improved skin conditions

  • Weight loss

  • Lower cholesterol levels

  • Lower blood sugar

  • Improved mood

  • Improved memory 

  • Better quality of sleep

It's recommended to drink within local guidelines to keep negative health consequences of alcohol use to a minimum.

As well physical health benefits, financial, familial, and social health is impacted, too.

2. How Alcohol Use effects Finances

Alcohol is expensive. Maintaining a habit, even more so. Those who develop addictions, eventually tend to veer towards stronger alcohol. This is due to an increase in tolerance. 

Even if a person prefers a lighter alcohol (i.e. lager), they may include spirits for the physical impact.

As physical dependency develops, people need alcohol to function normally. 

What all of this means is that there's a constraint strain on finances to fuel the addiction. A person who needs to drink every day spends a lot of money to do so and this adds up. Even for one individual, alcoholism costs thousands over the course of a year. For many, this introduces debt, and debt can mean a threat to the security associated with having a home to live in.

3. What Alcohol Use Disorder means for Families

It's widely acknowledged that alcohol addiction leads to devastating effects within families. A huge amount of issues and factors come into play and, sadly, as much as family members want their loved one to quit using alcohol, there's no quick fix. This disease requires a huge amount of professional input and personal work from the person in question.

Commonly, some family members develop strict apathy towards the member who's addicted. This is a coping mechanism. Emotionally cutting off from the loved one feels the easiest way to manage the situation. 

Others try to control their loved one and become entirely obsessed with their every movement. It’s common in these relationships for codependency to develop. A feeling where the family member doesn’t feel okay unless the addicted person seems okay and isn’t drinking much. 

Enabling is also common, where a family member might fund alcohol or allow a person to drink in the house. Often, this stems from a lack of awareness on how to set protective boundaries. Relationships are totally enmeshed and unhealthy.

All of these dynamics are painful and heart-breaking. The strain on families is profound and can last a lifetime and be passed down through generations.

4. The Social Impact of Alcohol Use

Alcoholism affects people in different ways. Some, even with severe use, are able to hold down highly skilled jobs. Others, aren't able to do so. Jobs are often impacted, some losing work or having to change what they do.

Friendships are also affected by substance use. It’s common for people to eventually distance themselves when alcohol use has become severe, whether due to sadness or frustration. 

How to Stop Drinking Alcohol

Due to how it impacts the body creating a physical dependency, alcohol needs to be addressed at an addiction treatment clinic under the supervision of a doctor.

Medication is prescribed to support a person to wean off the substance while managing withdrawal symptoms. This makes it as safe as possible by reducing the risk of seizures.

Following on from cutting out alcohol, therapeutic treatments are necessary in order to address the mental and emotional causes of addiction and to provide healthy alternative coping mechanisms. 

Peer groups are also a key feature for people in recovery as they offer a sober and supportive community of people who understand addiction and how to heal. People sometimes attend peer groups for years after achieving sobriety.

What An Alcohol-Free Life Looks like

When a person quits using alcohol, they tend to fill up their lives with other things that bring meaning and support health.

Developing a healthy lifestyle usually starts with the basics. After addiction, having a balanced diet is a crucial way to support the body and mind to heal. Taking time to nurture the organs and systems after abuse helps a person to recover more quickly.

As well as this, people tend to take up new hobbies, whether art, gardening, community-based, exercise or sports, creating a life of value significantly improves long-term outcomes and sobriety success.

How long does it take to see a difference in health?

Granted, the first three months of quitting alcohol are challenging, the first month, in particular. However, even within this timescale, people often start to notice a change in skin colour as well as puffiness. 

Depending on severity of use, people might take these few months simply to wean off alcohol safely. Cravings are hard, but with professional input, are manageable.

After a few months, sleep generally improves, and there can be a reduction in mental health symptoms. As time goes on, medical check-ups reveal how the body is better able to absorb nutrients. This is often felt in a new alertness and focus.

One thing that's important to keep in mind is that while cravings are frequent at the beginning of recovery, they reduce as time goes on and become much easier to manage.

Final thoughts…

Alcohol is used throughout the world. For many, men especially, it becomes an unhealthy coping mechanism which sadly can lead to death.

The negative consequences are huge. However, with a reduction, or absolute quitting, of alcohol, people are able to make a full, healthy recovery.

Though it takes time, healing is possible when addressed through experienced treatment services and other supportive sober communities.

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